Do you want to see ‘42nd Street’?

42nd Street (1933)

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Average Rating: 7.8/10
Reviews Counted: 20
Fresh: 19 | Rotten: 1

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 1

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User Ratings: 7,073

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Movie Info

The quintessential "backstage" musical, 42nd Street traces the history of a Broadway musical comedy, from casting call to opening night. Warner Baxter plays famed director Julian Marsh, who despite failing health is determined to stage one last great production, "Pretty Lady." Others involved include "Pretty Lady" star Dorothy Brock (Bebe Daniels); Dorothy's "sugar daddy" (Guy Kibbee), who finances the show; her true love Pat (George Brent); leading man Billy Lawlor (Dick Powell); and

Unrated, 1 hr. 29 min.

Musical & Performing Arts

Directed By: Lloyd Bacon

Written By: James Seymour, Rian James

In Theaters: Mar 9, 1933 Wide

On DVD: Mar 21, 2006

MGM Home Entertainment

42nd Street Trailer & Photos

Cast

Warner Baxter
Julian Marsh
Bebe Daniels
Dorothy Brock
George Brent
Pat Denning
Ruby Keeler
Peggy Sawyer
Una Merkel
Lorraine Fleming
Guy Kibbee
Abner Dillon
Ginger Rogers
Ann Lowell/Anytime Anni...
Ned Sparks
Thomas Barry
Dick Powell
Billy Lawler
Allen Jenkins
MacElroy
Henry B. Walthall
The Actor
Eddie Nugent
Terry Neil
Clarence Nordstrom
Leading Man
Robert McWade
Al Jones
George E. Stone
Andy Lee
Harry Warren
Songwriter
Joan Barclay
Louise Beavers
Pansy
Wallis Clark
Dr. Chadwick
Dorothy Coonan Wellman
Chorus Girl
Patricia Ellis
Secretary
Anne Hovey
Chorus Girl
George Irving
House Doctor
Alice Jans
Chorus Girl
Milt Kibbee
News Spreader
Jack LaRue
A Mug
Adele Lacey
Lorena Layson
Chorus Girl
Kermit Maynard
Dancer Who Catches Girl
Donna Mae Roberts
Chorus Girl
Barbara Rogers
Chorus Girl
Rolfe Sedan
Stage Aide
Harry Seymour
Aide
Lyle Talbot
Geoffrey Waring
Dorothy White
Dancer
Renee Whitney
Chorus Girl
Pat Wing
Chorus Girl
Toby Wing
"Young and Healthy" Gir...
Albert Akst
Jerry
Busby Berkeley
Alexis Dubin
Songwriter
Charles Lane
An Author
Dave O'Brien
Chorus Boy
Loretta Andrews
Chorus Girl
Lynn Browning
Maxine Cantway
Ruth Eddings
June Glory
Chorus Girl
Gertrude Keeler
Margaret La Marr
Jayne Shadduck
Tom Kennedy
Slim Murphy

Critic Reviews for 42nd Street

All Critics (21) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (22) | Rotten (1) | DVD (10)

This 1933 film is the best known of the Warner Brothers Depression-era musicals, though it doesn't compare in dash and extravagance to later entries in the cycle.

October 16, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

The liveliest and one of the most tuneful screen musical comedies that has come out of Hollywood.

August 8, 2006 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Mordaunt Hall

New York Times

Top Critic

A deliciously funny musical; racy and light years ahead of its time.

June 17, 2009 Full Review Source: Clothes on Film

| Comment

Chris Laverty

Clothes on Film

Of Golden Age musicals, 42nd Street is about as close to the archetype as they come.

April 8, 2006 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com

| Comment

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

42nd Street has wit, charm, humor, sarcasm, backbiting, sorrow, heartache, and inspiration mixed in with a fine cast, good songs, and inventive dance routines.

March 22, 2006 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

...the film that practically invented every backstage musical clich� we know today...remains a remarkable achievement for a film over seven decades old.

March 22, 2006 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

Berkeley choreographs chorines and camera with mischievous dexterity.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

42nd Street may not be the best backstage musical ever made, but it's certainly the most enjoyable and durable in appeal--find out why.

August 26, 2005 Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

The strength of a musical is its songs, and this film had a mixed bag.

February 15, 2004 Full Review Source: Goatdog's Movies

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Michael W. Phillips, Jr.

Goatdog's Movies Source: Goatdog's Movies

One can't say enough good things about what Busby Berkeley did for the musical.

January 11, 2004 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

The result is an absolute spectacular. Not to be missed.

April 21, 2003 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine

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Angie Errigo

Empire Magazine

Busby Berkeley's astonishing choreography is singularly cinematic and still astonishing.

April 11, 2003 Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

San Francisco Examiner

[Features] great Busby Berkeley production numbers.

March 10, 2003 Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle

| Comment

Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

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Audience Reviews for 42nd Street

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Spicey for the Depression era 30's, this gorgeously made musical is like none other ever performed. Use of forward thinking cinematography, an uncensored storyline, and musical numbers that inspire choreographers to this day, made this a very unique musical among the stereotyped genre. An amazing performance by the

October 31, 2010

Spencer S.

Super Reviewer

A lot of fun with an amazing sequence at the end by Mr. Busby Berkeley.This is to legs as Death Proof is to feet.

April 19, 2007

Ken Stachnik

Super Reviewer

42nd Street Quotes

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1. Julian Marsh: Sawyer, you're going out a youngster, but you've got to come back a star!
– Submitted by Tyler C (10 months ago)

Submit a Quote from '42nd Street'

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